RANGPUR, Feb 19 (BSS): Experts at a citizen dialogue laid emphasis on Tuesday on comprehensive efforts of all concerned to stop dropout from school for ensuring normal educational life of children for their proper development.
The Nilphamari district administration jointly with UNICEF organised the citizen dialogue on 'Identifying reasons of dropout from school and way-outs' at conference room of the Deputy Commissioner in Nilphamari district town.
Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Nazia Shirin attended the event as chief guest with Deputy Director (Local Government) Md. Abdul Motaleb in the chair.
Rangpur and Rajshahi Divisional Head of the UNICEF Najibullah Hameem attended the dialogue as special guest.
In the welcome address, Abdul Motaleb urged all to come forward to stop dropout of children from school as the priority programme of the government.
Education Officer of the UNICEF Sifat-e-Islam said 24.2 per cent of children still fall from primary education in Nilphamari district.
Najibullah Hameem said that falling out of school means stopping development of children. "The UNICEF is supporting Bangladesh in life-skill oriented education, teachers' training, quality education, alternative education system for out-of-school children and adolescents- and girls-friendly education programmes," he said.
Hameem stressed on importance of engaging combined efforts of teachers, guardians and public-private-level initiatives to indentify reasons behind school dropout for maintaining normal educational life of children.
The officials working in education sector, UNICEF representatives, teachers, guardians, citizen representatives, students, children, adolescents and youths attended the event.
Participating students mentioned eve-teasing, high cost for commercialisation of education, poverty, insecurity of female students, child marriage, insincerity of teachers and lack of knowledge of parents about education as reasons for dropout from school.
Guardians suggested for constructing child friendly classrooms, strengthening awareness-building programmes, expanding coverage of education stipend, assisting poor parents in income generating works and recruiting adequate teachers to stop dropout.
Teachers stressed on motivation of parents to send children to school, providing financial assistance to poor families, connecting with need-based practical education, eliminating backwardness of mindset and stopping child labour and child marriage.
